Vending machine



Feb, 7 .16 1926.

G. A. JOHNSTON mum up MACHINE .F'iled Dec. 5, 1923 4 Sheets-Sheet 1INVENTO. 6 I7. JOHNS To ATTORNEY.

Feb. 16 1926.

G. A. JOHNSTON VENDI N5 MACH INE Filed Dec.

1923 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVEN 'TUR 6.61 JOHNSTON A TTORNEY Feb. 16 1926. 71,573,517

6. A. JOHNSTON VENDING MACHINE Filed Dec. 1923 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 E I l.18 H7 @WL'T.

INVENTOR.

5. r7. JOHNS TON P'f' 5 I RY 1 ATTORNEY. S

Feb. 16 1926. 1,573,517

G. A. JOHNSTON vznmue MACHINE Filed Dec. 1923 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 I NV ENTOR.

5/1 JU/WVSTUN .A TTORNE Y.

Patented Feb. 16, 1926.

UNITED STATES IQPATENVT OFFICE.

GEOBGINA A. JOHNSTON, OI LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.

VENDING MACHINE.

Application filed December 6, 1923. Serial No. 673,868.

ment in VendingM-achines, of which the following is a full, clear, andexact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to Vending machines and particularly to vendingmachines guard for the chain showin which are adapted to be used withtoilets for providing a seat cover which may be placed on the tolletseat for each successive user.

A further object of the invention is to provide a vending machine whichoperates to feed a sheet of paper from the machine to an operativeposition after which the machine again operates to remove the paper fromits first position.

One object of the invention is to provide a machine adapted for use withtoilets, wherein the machine first feeds a sheet of paper to a toiletseat and later removes the sheet from the seat to a receptacle where thesheet may be burned.

' A further object of the invention is to provide an automatic machinefor feeding seat covers to a toilet seat and then removing the sheetfrom the seat.

Other objects ofv the invention will be apparent from the following"specification taken in connection with the accompanying drawingswherein Fig. 1 is a central sectional view through a machine embodyingthe" features of my invention showing certain of the operating parts inelevation; Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 taken on* a differentplane and showing other parts of the operatin mechanism; Fig. 3 is a section taken t rough the front of the casing at right angles to the viewsshown in Figs. 1 and 2 and showing the operating parts in elevation;Fig. 4 is a fragmentary detail of the casing showing an. electrical,connection;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary detail showing the spring means for closing thecircuit when the paper container is empty; Fig. 6 is an elevation ofa-link of the chain used for propelling the paper showing the paperengaging dog in elevatlon; Fig. 7 is a section through the the chain insection and the paper engaging dog in elevation; Fig. 8 is an enlargedView similar The reach 18 of the 'pas'sagewa to Fig. 7 showing the-camfor causing movement of the paper engaging dog toward the paper; Fig. 9is a top plan of thecoin slide and circuit closer adapted for use withmy invention; Fig. 10 is a top plan of the circuit closer operated bythe coin slide; Fi 11 is a side elevation of the circuit closer;%ig- 12is a sectional detail showing the chain conveyor and guard for removingthe paper; Fig. 13 is a detail of one of the circuit closers; Fig. 14isa plan of the paper adapted for use with my invention; Fig. 15 1s aperspective View showing the installation of my vending machine; Fig. 16is a detail of a door forthe receptacle and Fig. 17 is a wiring diagram.

Referring to the drawings by reference characters, I have shown at 10 acasing which may be made of sheet metal. .Arranged within the upper partof the casing I show a receptacle 11 for sheets of paper. The receptacle11 is provided with an inclinedbottom so that the sheets of paper 12'are arranged with'their adjacent lower edges to the thickness of onesheet of paper. As a result when the roll 14 is rotated only one thereceptacle a distance substantially equal sheet of paper can be removed.from the receptacle at one time; The roll 14 is preferably Y providedwith a. spaced friction means, such as rubber strips, arranged there'-on to facilitate the feeding of the paper.

Extending from the said roll 14 I show a' passageway 17-for the sheetsof paper.

17 is so arranged as to direct the sheet eing fed by this roll l't'betweenthe rolls 19 and 20. The

rolls 19 'and 2O are arranged to feed the paper through an aperture 21in the front of the casing onto a table22.

The front of the paper receptacle 11 is provided with a. follower 23which is urged toward the rear of the receptacle by springs 24 so thatas the supply of pa er diminishes the follower moves toward t e back ofthe casing for a purpose to be presently described.

By referring to Fig. 15 of the drawing the arrangement of the vendingmachine with respect to the toilet seat will be noted. The casing 10 ispreferably removable held in place by brackets or cleats 25 arranged ona partition 26. A flush tank for' the rolls 19 and 20 it advances overthe table 22 onto the toilet seat 27, The paper is made of such a lengththat when it has been advanced by the rolls-19' and 20 until its end haspassed between these rolls it will be properly fitted over the seat.

which receives a chain 32.

After use it is desirable to provide automatic means for removing thesheet of paper 12 from the seat. To bring this about I provi'demechanismso that when the seat is raised the" operation causes the motor torotate the shaft 30. The shaft has a. pair of spaced sprockets 31thereon, each of Sprockets 33 mounted adjacent the table 22 have thechains 32 passing thereover. The chains are shown in Figs. 6, 7 and 8 onan enlarged scale and it will be noted that certain links are providedwith locking dogs 35. I prefer to use two pairs of the locking dogs butmore or less may be used as desired. Each dog is normally held inretracted position by a spring 36. A suitable guard 38 is provided forthe chain 32.

I prefer to space the chains apart laterally so that the sheet of paper12 passes between them thus enabling the dogs to move towards each otheruntil the ends 40 thereof engage the sheet.

In order to move the locking dogs toward each other I show guides 41.through which the chains 32 pass, as provided with a cam surface 42which is arranged on the inner surface of the guides and which isadapted to engage the dogs 35 to force them toward each other. The cams42 extend from the point 43 to the point 44 where they termi nate sothat the article being conveyed will be released. The sprocket 31 itwill be noted by referring to Fig. 2 is arranged within a container 45which is disposed in the bottom of the casing 10. The chains passthrough a narrow slot in the front of the container 45.

My improved vending machine may be operated in any desired manner but Inow prefer that its actuation be automatic and that the operation of themachine be controlled by coins or tokens which may be inserted by theuser. I will now describe one form of mechanism which is adapted tooperate the machinery for delivery of the articles and their removal.

' Referring to Fig. 9 I show a plan of the coin mechanism while in Fig.1 a side elevation of this mechanism is disclosed. The "sliding memberis provided with a pair of opposed apertures 51' and" with a bottomplate 52. Suitable coins may be inserted in the apertures 51 andwhen-the slide 50 is pushed into the casing the coins make contact withthe spring terminals 53 and 54 and the circuit is completed through thecoins and through the plate 52. The terminals 53 and 54 are connectedrespectively with leads 55 and 56. The slide 50 is provided with anoperating member 57 which is connected to a circuit closer 58 pivoted at59 to the eas ing 10. The circuit closer. 58 completes the c'ncuitthrough the terminals 60 and 61 to a lead 62 which is connected toanother lead 63 communicating with a source of power.

From the description it will be apparent that when the proper e'oinshave been placed in the two apertures 51 and the slide 50 is pushedinwardly, that the circuit closer 58 will close the circuit through theleads 62 and 55 and thatthe coins in the apertures 51 will close theeircuit from the lead 55 to the lead 56. The lead 56 communicates withthe terminal 65 of a. motor 66 which has a second terminal 67 connectedby a lead 68 with the return lead 69.

It will thus be seen that when the slide 50 is moved inwardly, with theroper coins inserted, that the motor will egin operation.

By referring to Fig. 3 it will be seen that the motor 66 is providedwith a gear 67 which meshes with a second gear 68 shown as engaginganother gear 69. The gear 69 is mounted on a shaft 7 O which is providedwith a gear 71 meshing with another gear 72 which in turn drives a gear73 arranged on a shaft 74. The feed roll 14 previously described isarranged upon the shaft 74 so that the operation of the motor 66 causesthe feed roll 14 to rotate.

The gear 71 also engages a gear 75 shown as engaging a gear 76. Thegears 75 and 76 are keyed to shafts 77 and 78 and upon the shafts 77 and78 I arrange the feed rolls 19 and 20. The shaft 70 is also providedwith a one-toothed gear 80 thereon. This one-toothed gear engages asecond gear 81 having peripheral teeth so arranged that for eachrotation of the gear 80 the gear 81 will be rotated for a partialrevolution. The gear 81 is shown as mounted on a shaft 82. which isprovided with a disc 83 (see Fig. 17) having a circular contact member84 thereon. The contact member is electricallyconnected with a lead 85which is connected to the lead 56. The contact 84 is arranged about thedisc 83 so as to make practically a complete circle thereon-.'"The endsof the contact 84 are spaced about a distance slightly greater, however,than the width of a contact member or brush 90. The contact is connectedby means of a lead 91 with the lead 63.

\Vhen the motor is operated throughthe movement of the slide 50 theoperation there' of drives the shaft 82 and closes the circuit betweenthe contact 90 and the contact 84 so that the circuit is complete to themotor through the lead 63, lead 91. contact 90, contact 84, to lead 85,lead 56, terminal 65, terminal 67, lead 68, to the return line 69.

The slide 50 is provided with a spring to cause it to return to normalposition after it has completed the circuit and started the motor. Thefeeding mechanism continues to function with the rolls 14. 19and 2Orotatingand advancing the paper until the shaft 812 has made a completerevolution and until the contact 84 freed from the contact 90. Thisaction causes the sheet of paper or article beingvended to be re movedfrom the receptacle 12 through the passageway 17 and through thediscl'iargc apertures 21 to and over the table To effect a reversemovement of the article by means of the chains in the manner previouslydescribed I prefer to construct the motor 66 as a reversible motor andto,

provide a ratchet member 100 on the gear 69 for clutching this gear tothe shaft 71). The ratchet 100 is so arranged that the gear '69-willdrive the shaft 70 onlv when the gear rotates in one" direction.

The. 0 eratin member 27. n'eviouslv member 116 thereon in contact withthe spaced terminals 117 and 118.

By referring to Fig. 17 where the switch is shown diagrammatically itwill be seen that the movement of this switch closes the circuit at thecontacts 117 and 118 to close the circuit through the leads 123'and'124,

This completes the circuit through lead 63,

lead 123. switch 114. lead 124. motor terminals 125, motor terminal 126and lead 69. This action causes the motor to reverse thusrotating theshaft 30 through gears 130 and driving the chains 32. A contact disc 131is mounted on a shaft 132 which is driven from the gears 130 when themotor is reversed. During forward movement of the motor the. gears 130are stationary being clutched to the motor shaft only when the motor isreversed.

The contact disc 131 has a contact member 132 thereon similar to thecontact member 84 and is also provided with a brush 133 similar to thebrush 96. The brush 133 is connected by a lead 134 with the lead 63while the contact ring 132' is connected by a lead 136 with the terminal125 of the motorQ 7 It will thus be apparent that when the. switch 114closes the circuit to reverse the motorthat the motor will continue itsreverse motion until the disc 131 has made substantially a completerevolution.

In order to prevent the loss of coins by the operator in the event thatthe supply of paper in the container is exhausted I show the receptacle12 as provided with an insulated contact member 150. The follower 23which may be made of metal is engaged by the spring contact 24 which iselectrically connected at 151 with the front of the casing. 'hen thesupply of articles exhausted the follower will move toward and engagetherear wall closing the contact through the lead 150 and the spring 24 toa lead 151:). The lead 153 is connected across a lamp 154 with a lead155 in circuit with the lead 63. The casing is provided with an aperture156 n whieh'the lamp 154 is contain-ed and the front of the aperture 156may be provided with a transparent panel having the word Empty thereonso that when the supply of articles is exhausted the lamp 154 willilluminate the sign. The con'ipletion-of the circuit across theterminals 150 and 15 completes the circu't through the lead 156 to themagnet 157. lead 158, terminal 61 and 60. and lead 62 so that the magnetexerts a pull on the armature 160 thereby rocking the lever 161 and alsorockmg the bellcrank 162. The bell crank is provided with a closure 163pivoted thereto in such a manner that when the lever 161 is rocked thevalve 163 will swing to the right in Fig. 1 clos ng the passage 165 tothe coin receptacle 166 and directing the coin .to the passage 167 andthe cup 168 where the operator may secure his 00211. It

may here be explained that when the coins are conveyed inwardly by theslide 50 they pass beyond the end of the bottom 52 of thcslide and thendrop into the chute 52 In order to d spose of the paper removed from theseat 27 I showthe lower portion of the casing 10 as provided with anincinerator 170. This incinerator is connected by means of leads 171 and172 with contact members 174 and 175, arranged along the side wall ofthe guard 38. The contacts 174 and 175 are spaced apart so that normallythe circuit is open and the incinerator is not in operation. Mountedupon the links of the chain 32 which are provided with the dogs 35. Ishow contact members or circuit closers 176. These circuitclosers arearranged to close the circu t between the leads 171 and 172 and thuscause the coils of the incinerator to be heated. The contacts 174 andextend from about the point 43 to about the point 44 so that while thechains &

32 are conveying the paper between these points the incinerator isoperating to consume sheets previously delivered by the chains.

In circuit with the leads 171 and 172 I show a motor 178 which isarranged in a flue 179. The flue is provided with an exhaust opening 180to the air and with a passage 181 leading to the chamber 182 whichhouses the incinerator.

The movement of the chains 32 causes the circuit to the motor 178 to beclosed so that the fan draws the smoke and fumes from the particles beinconsumed out through the passage 181. hould any solid particles beaccidently delivered to the incinerator the fan will draw such particlesthrough the passage 181 whence they will fall to the removablereceptacle 185'.

In order to provide a convenient supply of small paper and at the sametime to provide means for preventing waste thereof I arrange the smallpaper on a roll 190 which is fixed on a shaft 191. The shaft 191 has atoothed ratchet 192 secured thereto.

Mounted adjacent the ratchet "I show a look- 1 196 normally pushes theoperating lever 195 downwardly as shown in Fig. 1 thus-preventingrotationof the paper roll.

When the toilet seat is lowered and the operating arm rocked the portion197 thereof engages the lower end 198 of the operating member 195 andpushes the latter upwardly thus disengaging the locking pin 193 andallowing the paper to be unrolled from the roll. 2

In Fig. 16 I show the details of a door which may be provided in thecasing 10 just above the incinerator so that articles to be burned maybe inserted in the incinerator chamber. The door may comprise acontainer 200, of cylindrical form, having an opening 201 and having anoperating knob 202. The door may be hung on a shaft 208 wh ch isinserted through the front and back of the casing 10.

' One of the seat covers which may be used wth my improved vendingmachine is shown in Fig. 1% ,as comprising a body part 12 having opposedapertures 210 defined by straight sides and curved ends. A tongue 211which is perforated at 212 to facilitate tearing is provided in the seatcover. The cover is preferably creased at 214: to allow it to be bentdown over the edges of the seat after the tongue 211 is broken.

claim:

1. In combination with a toilet including a seat, a receptacle forpaper, means to feed said paper from said receptacle over said seat inone direction, means to stop said sheet feeding means, and additionalmeans for removing said sheet from said seat in a direc tion opposite tothe first mentioned direction and in the same plane.

2. In a toilet, a receptacle for holding a plurality of sheets of paper,means to feed said sheets of paper singly from said receptacle, a seat,means to advance said sheets of paper over said seat, means to stop saidsheet advancing means and means for removing the sheet of paper fromsaid seat in a direction opposite to the advancing movement.

3. In a toilet having a seat, a casing, a plurality of sheets of paperin said casing, a passageway from said casing to said seat, means forengaginga sheet of paper and moving it from said casing to said seat. areceptacle in said casing, and means for moving said paper from the seatto said receptacle in a direction reverse to the first mentioneddirection but in the same plane.

1. In combination with a toilet having a seat, a casing, a plurality ofsheets of paper arranged in said casing-a passageway from said casing tosaid seat, a receptacle in said casing, and means for first advancingpaper over said seat and for thereafter removing the paper from saidseat, said last means being controlled by the operation of said seat. 5.In combination with a toilet having a seat, a vending machine includinga casing having a receptacle for a plurality of sheets of paper, meansto deliver said sheets of paper from said receptacle, means to ad- Vancesaid sheets of paper from said receptacle to said seat, and meansactuated by the movement of said seat to remove said sheets of paperfrom said seat.

6. In combination with a toilet having a seat, -a vending machine, areceptacle for paper therein, means to feed said sheets of paper fromsaid receptacle one at a time. a channelway extending from said feedingmeans, a pair of rolls for advancing said sheets to said seat, means forremoving said sheets from. said seat, said last mentioned meanscomprising pairs of spaced sprockets having chains thereon, meanscarried by said chains for engaging said sheets, means whereby theengagement of said last mentioned means is effected by the'movement ofsaid chains and-means for releasing said sheet from said chains. v,

Y. In a vendingmachine, a-receptacle for articies to he vended, a table,means to feed said articles singly from said receptacle to said table, amotor for operating said feeding means, two independent circuits to themotor, one ot said circuits when closed causing said motor to operateforwardly and the second of said circuits when closed causing said motorto operate rearwardly, means whereby said first circuit can be closed tocause said motor to operate saidfeed means to feed sheets to said table,means to close said secondcircuit to reverse said motor, and meansoperated by the reverse moveinent of said motor to convey sheets fromsaid table. n j

8. In a vending machine, a receptaclefor sheets of paper, a table, adeliverychute from said receptacle to said table, means to feed sheetsof paper from said receptacle to said table, a motor, means whereby saidmotor operatessaid feeding means, a second receptacle, means'to conveysheets of paper from said, table to said second receptacle, said lastmentioned means comprising a pair of spaced chains comprising links,certain of said links having pivoted dogs thereon, said dogs beingnormally disposed with their ends beyond ,the side edges ofjthe paper,

means whereby the movement'of said chains causes said dogs to moveinwardly to engage said paper, and means to thereafter release saidpaper from engagement, with said dogs. i I

9 In a vending machine, a receptacle for articles to be vended, a table,means to feed said articles singly from said receptacle to said table, amotor for operating said feeding means, two independent circuits to themotor, one of said circuits when closed causing said motor to operateforwardly and the,

second of said circuits when closed causing said motor to operaterearwardly, an operating member for closing said first circuit to causesaid motor to operate said feed means, means actuated by said motor todeliver said articles fed by said feeding means'to said table, a secondreceptacle, a second operating member adapted to close said secondcircuit to reverse said motor, and means oper-,

ated by the reverse movement of said motor to convey articles from saidtable to said second receptacle.

I 10. In a vending machine, a receptacle for holding a plurality ofsheets of paper, means to feed said sheets of paper from saidreceptacle, a'table, means to advance said paper to said table, a secondreceptacle, and means to advance said paper from said table to saidsecond receptacle, an incinerator-in said second receptacle and meanswhereby the advancement of said paper to said second receptacle actuatessaid incinerator, a flue extending from said incinerator, a tan in saiddue and means whereby the ashes of the paper consumed by saidincinerator may be removed from said second container through said flue.

all. In combination with a toilet having a seat, a vending machine, areceptacle for seat covers, a table, a second receptacle, means to feedseat covers singly from said ing one'of said circuits to cause a seatcover to be fed to said seat, a second operating member associated withthe toilet seat for causing said motor to actuate the means for feedingthe seat covers from the seat'to the second receptacle and means wherebybut one of said circuits can he closed at one time.

12. In combination with a toilet having a seat, a vending machlne, areceptacle for sheets of paper, a delivery chute extending from said.receptacle to said seat, means to feed paper from said receptacle tosaid seat, a motor, means whereby said motor operates said feeding-means, a second receptacle, means to deliver articles from said seat tosaid second receptacle, said-last mentioned means being operated by saidmotor, said last mentioned means comprising a pair of spaced chainshaving means thereon for-en'- gaging said paper, means whereby themovement of said chains causes said engaging means to engage saidpaper,and means to thereafter release said paper from engagement with saidmeans.

13. In combination with a toilethaving a seat, a vending machine, areceptacle for sheets of paper, a delivery chute for said receptacle,means to feed articles from said receptacle to said seat, a secondreceptacle, means to deliver sheets from said seat to said secondreceptacle, said last mentioned means comprising a pair of spaced chainshaving engaging means thereon, means whereby the movement of said chainscauses said engaging means to engage said paper, an incineratorincluding heated coils and means whereby when said chains move saidcoils are heated.

14. In a vending machine, atable, a paper receptacle comprising acontainer having an inclined bottom, means to feed sheets of papersingly from said receptacleto said table, said means including a feedroll for engaging a sheet of paper adjacent one end thereof,'apassageway extending from said feed roll, a pair of delivery rollsadjacent said passageway, said delivery rolls serving to advance thepaper fed by the first roll, means to operate said feed roll and meanswhereby the operation of said feed roll and said delivery rolls iscontinued until the paper has passed beyond the delivery vrolls.

15. In a vending machine, a casing, a table adjacent said casing, acontainer for paper, means to advance sheets of paper singly from saidcontainer to said table, means to remove sheets of paper from saidtable, said means comprising spaced chains having engaging membersthereon, each of said engaging members including a cam operated dog, auard for said chains, a cam on said guard Ior causing said dogs toengage said paper, a second container and means whereby the chainsdeliver sheets from the table to the second container.

16. In a vending machine, a casing having a paper container therein, atable adjacent said casing, means to advance sheets of paper singly fromsaid container to said table, means to remove sheets of paper from saidtable, said means comprising spaced chains having engaging membersthereon, each of .said engaging members including a cam 0perated dog, acam for causing said dogs to engage said paper, a second container,means whereby the chains deliver sheets from the table to thesecondcontainer, a heating coil in said second container, a circuitincluding said coil, spaced contacts adjacent said chain and circuitclosing means on said chains for bridging said contacts to close saidcircuit.

17. In a vending machine. a casing, a table adjacent said casing,acontaincr for paper, means to advance sheets of paper singly from saidcontainer to said table, endless conveyors to remove sheets of paperfrom said container, a heating coil in said second contamer, a circuitt'rom said coil, spaced con tacts in said circuit. a circuit closercarried by said conveyor for bridging said spaced contacts, an exhaustt'an associated with said second container. and means whereby theclosing of said circuit operates the exhaust fan.

19. In combination with a toilet having a seat, a vending machine havinga paper container therein. means to advance seat covers from saidcontainer to said seat, a roll of paper in said machine. a shaft: onwhich said roil is mounted. a ratchet on said shaft. a pin engaging saidratchet. an operating member for releasing said pin. a second opcrating,member associated with said toilet seat and means whereb v said pinfrees said ratchet to permit unrolling said roll of paper only when theoperating member associated with the toilet seat is actuated.

In testimony whereof. I hereunto atiix my signature.

